Members of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers are fasting to pressure Wendy's to join a breakthrough fair-food program that's raised wages and made workplace harassment obsolete. Workers and supporters rally outside the offices of Wendy's board chair Nelson Peltz in New York on the first day of the Freedom Fast, March 12, 2018.

Restaurant operators are no stranger to technology & the impact it can have on their business; recent advancements have provided customers with benefits like faster service, expanded delivery & online ordering. However, 2018 may see technology transforming the less visible aspects of restaurant operations.

In recent years, fast food has undergone a revolution, with the biggest companies expanding with offerings such as with Taco Bell's certified vegetarian menu and Chick-fil-A's grilled chicken and salads. That, alongside the rise of fast-casual, relatively eco-friendly purveyors like Chipotle and Shake Shack, has made it easier than ever to get a quick, tasty bite for cheap.